The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, or (from the Greek) the Didache, is an early Christian document of the first century, perhaps before the year 80, quite possibly earlier than some of the Gospels. It falls into three parts: the first is the “Two Ways”, the Way of Life and the Way of Death; the second part covers baptism, fasting, and Holy Communion; and the third speaks of the ministry. Eusebius judged it not to be part of the canon of Scripture (he was also doubtful of the Apocalypse), while Athanasius and Rufinus place it among the deutero-canonical works. Many of the Church Fathers were aware of it, and referred to it explicitly or implicitly. The text was lost for many centuries: it was rediscovered by a Greek bishop in 1873.

The part of the Didache which appears in the Office of Readings bears witness to a very early stage of the liturgy, long before doctrinal issues such as the meaning of the Redemption had even been thought about. Nevertheless, from a time when some of the Apostles were still living, we already have the core of what is recognisably the Mass.

Liturgical colour: green

The theological virtue of hope is symbolized by the colour green, just as the burning fire of love is symbolized by red. Green is the colour of growing things, and hope, like them, is always new and always fresh. Liturgically, green is the colour of Ordinary Time, the season in which we are being neither especially penitent (in purple) nor overwhelmingly joyful (in white).

At that time I told your judges: You must give your brothers a fair hearing and see justice done between a man and his brother or the stranger who lives with him. You must be impartial in judgement and give an equal hearing to small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man, for the judgement is God’s.